Structure of dual-color electroplated article

ABSTRACT

An improved structure of a dual-color electroplated article includes a base material, which has an outside surface, on which a metallic plating layer is electroplated to have the metallic plating layer tightly wrap around and enclose the outside surface and which includes at least one recess formed therein to be alternate with non-recessed portions of the outside surface and each receiving therein a black chrome plating layer electroplated therein to have the black chrome plating layer tightly attached in the recess; and a protection layer, which is formed, through electrophoretic deposition, to tightly wrap around and enclose the metallic plating layer and the black chrome plating layer of the base material. The metallic plating layer formed on the outside surface of the base material and the black chrome plating layer formed in the recess provide the base material with two different metallic colors and a dual-color article is provided.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an improved structure of a dual-color electroplated article, and more particularly to an article that comprises a base material having an outside surface on which a metallic plating layer is electroplated and which comprises a recess in which a black chrome plating layer is formed and a protection layer is formed, through electrophoretic deposition, on the metallic plating layer and the black chrome plating layer so as to provide the base with two different metallic colors and to provide an effect of corrosion resistance and wear resistance with the black chrome layer and an effect of surface protection with the protection layer thereby making the base material a dual-color craft article.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

General electroplating craftwork that commonly known, including for example fountain pens, head decorations, eardrops, necklaces, and wrist rings, is often made of metallic materials, plastic materials, or composite materials, which are processed to form a desired outside configuration and shape of a craft article and then dipped in an electrically conductive liquid to proceed with electroplating processing by means of an electroplating machine. The craftwork so manufactured comprises a thin layer of metallic electroplating layer tightly attached to and wrapping around a surface of the craft article. As shown in FIG. 1, such an article generally comprises a base material 90 that has an outside surface on which a metallic electroplating layer 91 is formed through an electroplating process. The metallic electroplating layer 91 can be formed of bronze or red brass so that the metallic electroplating layer 91 that wraps around the outside surface of the base material 90 shows the color of bronze or red brass and a desired purpose of providing the craft article with a metallic color is achieved.

Although such a conventional electroplating craft article may be provided with a metallic color, the conventional electroplating craft article possesses a metallic electroplating layer that has a single metallic color. To make a craft article having two colors on the outside surface of the base material, additional colorant or pigment or printing may be needed to provide two colors on the outside surface of a base material. This complicates the manufacturing process and lowers down the manufacturing efficiency and also suffers drawbacks of wear and corrosion caused by external environmental factors.

Thus, it is desired to provide a solution that overcomes the above technical drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the problem that the prior art manufacturing processes of electroplated craft articles are complicated and thus the manufacturing efficiency is low, the present invention aims to provide an improved structure of a dual-color electroplated article, which comprises a base material having an outside surface on which a metallic plating layer is electroplated and comprises recesses each of which receives a black chrome plating layer formed therein through electroplating and also comprises a protection layer formed outside and enclosing the metallic plating layer and the black chrome plating layer through electrophoretic deposition, so that an effect that the base material is provided with two metallic colors is achieved and further, an effect of corrosion resistance and wear resistance is achieved with the arrangement of the black chrome plating layer and further an effect of additional surface protection is achieved with the protection layer, whereby the present invention achieves a purpose of making a base material a dual-color craft article.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an improved structure of a dual-color electroplated article, which comprises:

a base material, which has an outside surface, the outside surface comprising a metallic plating layer formed thereon through electroplating in such a way that the metallic plating layer tightly wraps around and encloses the outside surface, the outside surface comprising at least one recess formed therein, the recess receiving a black chrome plating layer formed therein in such a way that the black chrome plating layer is tightly attached in the recess; and

a protection layer, which is formed, through electrophoretic deposition, to tightly wrap around and enclose the metallic plating layer and the black chrome plating layer of the base material.

The present invention provides an improved structure of a dual-color electroplated article, which comprises a base material having an outside surface on which a metallic plating layer is formed and which comprises recesses formed therein to each receive a black chrome plating layer formed therein. Further, a protection layer is formed, through electrophoretic deposition, on and outside the metallic plating layer and the black chrome plating layer. As such, the base material achieves an effect of showing a feature having two different metallic colors and the black chrome plating layer provides an effect of corrosion resistance and wear resistance. In addition, the protection layer provides an effect of additional surface protection. Thus, the present invention may achieve such a purpose of making a base material a dual-color craft article.

The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a prior art device.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a first example to which the present invention is applicable.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view illustrating the first example to which the present invention is applicable.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the first example to which the present invention is applicable.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a second example to which the present invention is applicable.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a third example to which the present invention is applicable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the present invention provides a structure of a dual-color electroplated article, which comprise:

a base material 10, wherein the base material 10 has an outside surface and a metallic plating layer 20 is formed, through electroplating, on the outside surface in such a way that the metallic plating layer 20 tightly wraps around and encloses the outside surface, the outside surface comprising at least one recess 12 formed therein so that, in case of multiple recesses 12 being formed in the outside surface, the recesses 2 are alternate with portions of the outside surface that are not recessed, each of the recesses 12 comprising a black chrome plating layer 30 formed therein through electroplating in such a way that the black chrome plating layer 30 is tightly attached in each of the recesses, in the embodiment illustrated, the recesses each comprising a portion of the metallic plating layer 20 formed therein and the black chrome plating layer 30 being formed in the recess and on the metallic plating layer 20; however, alternatively, the metallic plating layer 20 may be removed from the recesses 12; and

a protection layer 40, wherein the protection layer 40 is formed through electrophoretic deposition to tightly wrap around and enclose the metallic plating layer 20 and the black chrome plating layer 30 formed on the base material 10 and the protection layer may comprise a clear painting layer or a resin layer.

The metallic plating layer 20 may be formed of bronze, red brass, or tin.

The base material 10 may be formed of a metallic material, a plastic material, or a composite material.

The base material 10 may be a shell, a frame, or a column, but not limited thereto.

In a different embodiment, the outside surface is first formed thereon with a black chrome plating layer and comprises recess formed therein to each receive a metallic plating layer electroplated therein, the recesses being alternate with portions of the outside surface that are not recessed.

Referring to FIGS. 4-6, in an example of application, a base material 10 has an outside surface in which one recess is formed. The outside surface of the base material 10 is provided with a metallic plating layer 20 formed thereon through electroplating. The recess receives therein a black chrome plating layer 30 electroplated therein. The metallic plating layer can be formed of bronze, red brass, or tin so that portions of the outside surface of the base material 10, which are exposed, and the recess are respectively provided with electroplating layers having two different colors electroplated thereon. As such, the base material 10 shows a feature having two different metallic colors and a dual-color article can be formed through electroplating of the base material. The present invention, with such a structure, is applicable to various articles, such as an earphone, a letter opener, a perfume bottle cap, a pen, and a picture frame.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the present invention is applicable to an article having a base material that is in the form of a shell, a frame, or a column and thus, the present invention is applicable to various articles, such as stationery, automobile, construction materials, hardware, and electrical appliances. Further, the base material comprises, in an outside surface thereof, recesses in each of which a black chrome plating layer is formed, wherein the black chrome plating layer comprises a metallic ingredient of chromium (Cr), which has properties of enhanced resistance against corrosion and oxidation, so that the black chrome plating layer that is electroplated in each of the recesses of the base material helps improve strength and hardness of the article manufactured according to the present invention. Further, the present invention further provides a protection layer 40 that is formed to tightly wrap around and enclose the black chrome plating layer 30 and the metallic plating layer 20, wherein the protection layer is formed through electrophoretic deposition to wrap around the black chrome plating layer 30 and the metallic plating layer 20 for surface protection and, alternatively or additionally, be subjected to surface treatment for smoothening, sub-finishing, matte, or hardening anode treatment to provide the surface of the article with effectiveness of functionality and aesthetics and improving durability and service life of the article.

A comparison of the present invention with the prior art is listed below:

THE PRIOR ART

(1) Prior art processes for forming dual colors are very complicated.

(2) The efficiency of manufacturing of the prior art is low.

(3) The products manufactured with the prior art processes are susceptible to corrosion.

(4) The products manufactured with the prior art processes may readily wear down.

THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention, however, is different and provides the following advantages:

(1) The present invention provides excellent corrosion resistance.

(2) The present invention provides excellent oxidation resistance.

(3) The present invention improves durability of products.

(4) The present invention extends service lives of products.

(5) The present invention provides surface protection.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the claims of the present invention. 

I claim:
 1. A structure of a dual-color electroplated article, comprising: a base material, which has an outside surface, the outside surface comprising a metallic plating layer formed thereon through electroplating in such a way that the metallic plating layer tightly wraps around and encloses the outside surface, the outside surface comprising at least one recess formed therein to be alternate with non-recessed portions of the outside surface, each of the recesses receiving a black chrome plating layer formed therein in such a way that the black chrome plating layer is tightly attached in the recess; and a protection layer, which is formed, through electrophoretic deposition, to tightly wrap around and enclose the metallic plating layer and the black chrome plating layer of the base material.
 2. The structure of the dual-color electroplated article according to claim 1, wherein the metallic plating layer is formed of one of bronze, red brass, and tin.
 3. The structure of the dual-color electroplated article according to claim 1, wherein the base material is formed of one of a metallic material, a plastic material, and a composite material.
 4. The structure of the dual-color electroplated article according to claim 1, wherein the base material is in the form of one of a shell, a frame, and a column.
 5. The structure of the dual-color electroplated article according to claim 1, wherein the protection layer comprises one of a clear painting layer and a resin layer.
 6. A structure of a dual-color electroplated article, comprising: a base material, which has an outside surface, the outside surface comprising a black chrome plating layer formed thereon in such a way that the black chrome plating layer tightly wraps around and encloses the outside surface, the outside surface comprising at least one recess formed therein to be alternate with non-recessed portions of the outside surface, each of the recesses receiving a metallic plating layer formed therein through electroplating in such a way that the metallic plating layer is tightly attached in the recess; and a protection layer, which is formed, through electrophoretic deposition, to tightly wrap around and enclose the metallic plating layer and the black chrome plating layer of the base material.
 7. The structure of the dual-color electroplated article according to claim 6, wherein the metallic plating layer is formed of one of bronze, red brass, and tin.
 8. The structure of the dual-color electroplated article according to claim 6, wherein the base material is formed of one of a metallic material, a plastic material, and a composite material.
 9. The structure of the dual-color electroplated article according to claim 6, wherein the base material is in the form of one of a shell, a frame, and a column.
 10. The structure of the dual-color electroplated article according to claim 6, wherein the protection layer comprises one of a clear painting layer and a resin layer. 